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2014 Lexus IS 250
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
35 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 26, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#71 of 549Among the 2014 models with a matured record, the 2014 Lexus IS 250 ranks #71, scoring higher than 83% of them. See the 2014 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2014 Lexus IS250 4 DR AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2014 Lexus IS 250, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (9) · Airbags (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Electrical system
26%9 complaints
“AMPLIFIER IS IN A LOCATION WHERE IT GETS DAMP AND MOISTURE RUIN IT.”
Airbags
23%8 complaints
“SEA AIRBAGS WARNING B1861 CODE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING”
Suspension
11%4 complaints
“SUSPENSION, CONTROL ARMS, SHOCKS, AXELS, ETC. AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, MAKING THE TIRES HAVE A NEGATIVE OFFSET AND CAUSE EXTREME AMOUNTS OF …”
Body & structure
9%3 complaints
“Headlights are not sealed properly and moisture in the air rusts the lightbulb and they have to replace the whole headlamp!”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 35 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 7 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Lexus before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2014 Lexus IS 250 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2014? See how every IS 250 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2014 Lexus IS 250 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.